Lightning arrester



April 22, 1930. E. H. JACOBS 1,755,324

LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed March 31, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 1930- E.H. JACOBS 1,755,324

LIGHTNING- ARRESTER Filed March 31, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 22,1930. E. H. JACOBg 1,755,324

LIGHTNING ARRESIER Filed March 51, 1924 S Sheets-Sheet 3 invert/2557', IW flezsffJaOS Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNESTH. JACOBS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRICAL ENGINEERSEQUIPMENT (10., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; A CORPORATION ILLINOIS LIGHTNINGARRESTER Application filed March 31,1924. Serial No. 703,025.

This invention relates to protective devices for electrical circuits andis a continuation in part of my co p'ending application, Serial No.336,954 filed Nov. 10, 1919, which has resulted in Patent No. 1,497,978granted June 1? tential to ground with the least possible delay andwithas little disturbance and damage to the apparatus and line, aspossible. Air break arresters of the type to which my present inventionrelates, usually comprise a pair of proximate electrodes, one connectedto the line and the other connected to ground through a high resistance.The resistance unit should be of a capacity large enough to relieve thedisturbance on the line, and it should have sufficient resistancetoexclude the flow of any appreciable amount of dynamic current whichtends to follow the discharge to ground.

In meeting these requirements I have found if: that the desired lengthof the resistance unit is frequently considerably greater than thedistance which is necessary between the mounting frame or other supportand the electrodes, to secure the des1red msulatmg i strength. IVherethe resistance unit is, ar-

ran ed perpendicular to the frame with its lower end mounted thereon,the supporting insulator and other fittings for supporting the otherelectrode or electrodes, in close proximity to the electrode orelectrodes on the resistance unit, have had to be of substantially thesame length as the resistance unit irrespective of whether or not thelength of the resistance unit is greater than is necessary to providethe desired spacing from the frame or support. The electrode supportsand insulators are therefore frequently much larger than necessary, thedistance between the electrodes and the supporting frame is frequentlyinuch greater than necessary, and the over-all dimensions of the entireinstallation are commonly materially greater than they need be. Thisdefeats compactness and where other apparatus is positioned near thesupport frequently results in positioning the electrodes so that thebreak occurs closer to the other apparatus than desirable. Furthermorethe mechanical stresses which a resistance unit of this type will with-.stand are directly proportional to the distance between the point ofsupp rt and the free end of the unit, so that the greater the distancefrom the attachment to the frame to the free end of the resistance unitthe less able is the resistance unit to withstand such mechanicalstresses as are imposed upon the free end thereof. Inclined dispositionof the resistance unit has been provided for but additional supportinginsulators for the electrode or electrodes connected to the resistanceunit have been necessary, the resistance unit being connected obliquelybetween the resistance electrode and the supporting base without beingadapted to perform any electrode supporting function at all.

The primary object of my present invention is to overcome the foregoingdifficulties and more particularly to provide for supporting the groundor resistance electrode upon the resistance unit a distance from thesupporting frame less than the length of the resistance unit so thatsaid distance need be no greater than necessary to provide the requiredinsulation and the line electrode supports will not have to be undulylong. The ability to withstand mechanical stresses at the free end ofthe resistance unit is increased and the ground connection may bestraight and substantially normal to the spark gap at a distance greaterthan that between said gap and the frame.

Another object is to provide a simple and compact device that may beeconomically produced and in which assembly isfacilitated and excessivedimensions and all unnecessary material are eliminated. I

To acquaint those skilled in the art with the nature and scope of myinvention I shall now describe certain specific embodiments sufiice forboth. They are mounted of the same in connection with the accompanyingdrawlngs in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are side elevational views of further embodiments of theinvention;

Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 66 of Fig. 1 showing the lineelectrode support mounting crabs;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a detai. section on line 88 of Fig. 1 showing the resistanceunit n'iounting crabs;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line 10-1O of Fig. 9.

The arrester shown in Figure 1 is of the double or multiple gap type,having a pair of horn electrodes 6 and 7 and a pair of sphere electrodes8 and 9 with intermediate horn and sphere electrodes 10 and 11 arrangedwith sphere and horn gaps 12 and 13 between them and said firstelectrodes. Either electrodes 68 or 7 9 may obviously be omitted or agreater number may be suitably arranged about electrodes 6 and 7. Theelectrodes 6-8 and 79 are connected to the line by means of metalterminal pieces 14: to which the line conductors 15 are electrically andmechanically connected. The electrodes 10 and 11 constitute the groundelectrodes and are connected to ground 16 through the resistance unit 17which may be of the type disclosed in my above referred to co-pendingapplication or of any other suitable or pre ferred type. Where one sideof the device is omitted or where additional electrodes are employed thesupporting frame may be varied accordingly.

Suffice it to say that the resistance unit 17 comprises tubular casingmember 18 of insulation having terminal caps 19 and 20 mounted on itsupper and lower ends respcctively and connected through the interior ofthe tubular casing by rcs tance means which will not offer serioushin... nee to the passage of lightning or the surge or potential wave toground, but will at the same time check or limit to a safe value theflow of dynamic current tending to follow same. The terminal cap 19 ispreferably petticoated as shown, to form a water shed.

The mounting of electrodes 6-3 and 79 is the same so that a descriptionof one will upon the upper ends or heads of electrode supports 21 andsaid supports are mounted. at their lower ends upon frame members 5 andextend perpendicular upwar llv therefrom.

Each support 21 comprises an insulator 22 beaded annularly at its baseand secured in a sectionalized insulator clamp 23 of the universal type.Formed integral with one of the sectionalized bands of the clamp, forexample, is a mounting plate which is mounted by bolts 24 upon the uppersurface of a mounting plate or crab 25. Crab has integral claws 26 whichengage over the pipes 5 as shown in Fig. 6. A similar crab 27 ha ingclaws 28 similaiuy engaging the pipes is slung beneath the pipes and thetwo crabs and 27 are clamped in place upon the pipes by bolts 29. Theengagement of the claws prevents turning of the crabs on the supportingpipes, yet by loosening bolts 29 the crabs may be shifted along the pipeframe to secure approximately he desired spacing of the electrodes,tightening of bolts 29 again locking the crabs firmly in place. Theheads of bolts 24 cooperate with the depending flanges 30 of the uppercrab 25 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and this prevents turning ofthe bolts and facilitates threading the nuts upon and unthreading themfrom the upper ends of said bolts. The crabs 25 and 27 are universal.Either may be used above or below and each has a central opening 31.Where an axial pin or stud support for the insulator 22 is providedthese studs or pins may project down through openings 31 and be threadedat'their lower ends to receive a nut for clamping the crabs upon theframe.

The upper end of insulator 22 is similarly grooved and beaded andclamped upon said beaded upper end is a sectionalized clamp 35 of theuniversal type. Clamped upon clamps 35 with the inner ends of terminalmembers 14 clamped between them and the brackets are upwardly extendingmetal brackets 36 having transverse openings 37 in which are clamped byscrews 38 the rods 39 which are formed into the horn electrodes 6 and 7The rods39 are slidably mounted in openings 37 to permit adjustment ofthe gaps and are clamped in any adjusted position by screws 38. Thesphere or ball electrodes 8 and 9 are freely rotatable on the parallelupright portions of electrodes 6 and 7 to permitrenewing the arcingsurfaces, the horn electrodes 6 and 7 diverging from sphere electrodes 8and 9 upwardly as shown, the horn gap being slightly greater than thesphere gap as shown.

The outer ends of terminal pieces 14 are supported by line insulators 40being secured upon the upper ends thereof by sectionalized clamps 41.The insulators 40 are in turn clamped in perpendicular position uponpipes 5 by sectionalized clamps 42 an crabs 43.

The metallic cap 19 is threaded or otherwise suitably secured upon theupper end of the insulating tube of the resistance unit 17 and thevertical rod constituting the intermediate horn electrode 10 is threadedat its lower end into firm mechanical and electrical engagementtherewith. The vertical position of the horn electrode .10 may obviouslybe ad justed by threading it into or out of cap 19 a suitable lockrnut{l being provided for looking it in adjusted position. The sphereelectrode 11 is preferably threaded upon electrode and isadjustable upand down into proper relation With electrodes 8 and 9 and its rotationabout electrode 10 permits renewing the arcing surfaces. A look nut 46looks electrode 11 in any desired adjusted position.

The height of supports 21 is such that the electrodes 68 and 79 will bepositioned from frame 5 sufliciently to secure the desired insulatingstrength, the distances or air gaps between said electrodes and theframe being obviously considerably less than the length of theresistance unit 17. Proper operation of the resistance unit 17frequently requires that it he of a length considerably greater than thenecessary gap between the frame and the electrodes and to avoid makingthe lengths of supports 21 and a0 greater than necessary to secure thedesired spacing of a the electrodes from the frame, I make such supportsonly large enough to secure the desired spacingand I then extend theresistance unit 17 downwardly between pipes. 5 through the planethereof. This permits spacing the electrodes '10. and 11 substantiallythe same distance from the frame 5 as the line electrodes with aresistance unit much longer than said GlStI-IICQ.

The resistance unit extends perpendicular to frame 5 and is mountedsubstantially intermediate its ends upon frame 5 by an upper mountingmember 48 and cooperating lower mounting. plates 50; Member 48 has acentral hub through which there is an opening 52 and the insulatingsleeve 18 of the resistance unit extends'tlirough said opening, thesleeve being cemented or otherwise suitably secured in the opening 52which preferably has annular grooves or corrugations 53 and the surfaceof the, tube lying within the open ing may be roughened or corrugated toper mit the cementitious or binding material to secure a firm" grip onthe sleeve and member 48. Member 18 has three claws 54 engaging overpipes 5 and the plates 50 extend transversely beneath the pipes and haveclaws 56 engaging same, plates 50 and member 48 be ing clamped firmlyupon the pipes by suitable bolts 4&8. By loosening the bolts 48 theresistance unit may obviously be shifted along the pipes 5 and locked inany desired position by again tightening said bolts.

In addition to positioning electrodes 10 and 11 proximate the lineelectrodes and substantially the same distance from frame 5 as saidelectrodes with a resistance unit of a length greater than the necessarylength of the sup ports 21,.the extension of the resistance unit throughthe. plane of frame. 5 provides a ground. connectionsubstantially normalthe for any are that may tend to establish between the electrodes. Inaddition the distance between the support and the free end of the resistance unit being considerably less than the length of said unit, thestrength of the unit and ability to withstand the mechanical stresses towhich the free end is subjected is increased. The ground electrodes areobviously supported solely by resistance unit 17 and they are mounted onone side of the supporting frame with the, ground connection from theterminal lug 60 below or on the other side of the frame.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the supporting frame 62 has anintegral perpendicular post 63 upon which the insulator 64:1

is cemented or otherwise suitably secured. As before, the lineelectrodes are mounted upon the upper end of the supporting insulatorapproximate the ground electrodes which are mounted upon the upper endof resistance unit 65. The line is connected to the line electrodesthrough a terminal 66 and the resistance unit is mounted within itslength on the frame 62 by a sectionalized clamp 68, one half of which isformed integralwith frame 62 while the other half is in the form of acap, clamped about unit and bolted to the other half by bolts '70.

As before resistance unit 65 extends through the plane of frame 62 andon its lower end below the frame has a terminal cap 72 split at 7 3 andclamped upon the insulator sleeve bolts 74, and provided with adepending terminal lug 75 to which the ground connection is adapted tobe made.

In the embodiment shown in 4: the supporting frame is in the form of aninverted channel 76 having an opening 77 in its upper wall through whichthe resistance unit 78 extends. mounted within its length upon frame 76by a two-piece or sectionalized'clamp 78 which embraces and is clampedupon the resistance unit intermediate its ends by bolts 79 and is Theresistance unit 78 is s in turn secured u 30H frame 76 over 0 enin 77 bybolts 80. In this case stud or post insulated supports 81 are shownmounted upon frame 76 by bolts 82 and the sphere and horn w JUV abracket 88 on the outer end of insulator 89 and the line connection 90is directly to said bracket 88. In this case he resistance unit 91 issupported obliquely or inclined to frame 85, the terminal cap at thelower end or base of the resistance unit having an oblique mountingflange 93 secured di rectly to the upper surface of the frame 85 bybolts 94. Projecting axially from the upper end of resistance unit 91 isthe sphere electrode 95 for disposition proximate electrode 96 andmounted in a clamp projecting laterally from the terminal cap 97 foradjustment parallel the adjustment of electrode 95 is a horn electrode98 for disposition proximate line electrode 99. The electrodes 95 and 98are mounted directly on and supported solely by resistance unit 91 andthe inclined or oblique disposition of said unit permits disposing saidelectrodes proximate the line electrodes without employing an unduly orV unnecessary long support 89 and without extending the resistance unitthrough the plane of the supporting frame. This type is especiallysuitable where there is not surficient space or clearance b low thesupporting frame or where said space or clearance is limited. Theinclined disposition of the resistance provides a relatively straightand direct connection to grounding on frame 85.

As an additional adjustment for the electrodes supported on the outerend of the resistance unit, screws 100 are threaded through ears onflange 93 and cooperate with the upper wall of frame so that byloosening bolts 94 and threading screws 100 in or out the resistanceunit may be tilted as a unit and locked in any desired position by againtightening up bolts 9% and lock nuts 101 on screws 100.

I claim:

1. In combination, a supporting frame, an insulator projecting endwisefrom and disposed wholly upon one side of sand frame, means at one endof said insulator for attaching same to said frame, a line electrodemounted upon the opposite end of said insulator, a resistance unit ofsuch character that its length must exceed the distance from said lineelectrode to the frame in order to provide a resistance sufficient toexclude the flow of appreciable dynamic current following a discharge toground, means attached to said resistance unit intermediate its ends andto said frame for supporting said resistance unit upon said frame withone end projecting from one side of said frame and freely positioned inproximity to said line electrode and the opposite end passing throughthe plane of said frame and projecting from the opposite side of theframe with said opposite end freely positioned at a distance from theopposite side of the frame, a ground electrode mounted directly upon theend of said unit in proximity to said line electrode, and a groundconnection on the opposite end of said resistance unit.

2. In combination, a support, a resistance unit carrying and spacing aground electrode from said support and of such character that its lengthexceeds the distance from the ground electrode to thesupport in order toprovide resistance suficient to exclude the flow of appreciable dynamiccurrent following a discharge to ground, means attached to saidresistance unit intermediate its ends and to said support for supportingsaid resistance unit upon said support with one end projecting from andfreely positioned on one side of said support, said resistance unitpassing through the plane of said support with its opposite endprojecting from and freely positioned upon the opposite side of thesupport, the ground electrode being mounted upon one end of saidresistance unit and a ground connection mounted upon the oppo site endof said unit.

3. In combination, a support, an insulator mounted on and projectingfrom said support, a line electrode on the outer end of said insulator,a resistance unit of such character that its length exceeds the distancefrom the line electrode to said support in order to provide resistancesufficient to exclude the flow of appreciable dynamic current followinga discharge to ground, means attached to said resistance unitintermediate its ends and to said support for supporting said resistanceunit upon said support with one end projecting from and freelypositioned on one side of said support, said resistance unit passingthrough the plane of said support with its opposite end projecting fromand freely positioned upon the opposite side of the support, a groundelectrode mounted on the resistance unit in proximity to said lineelectrode and a ground connection on the opposite end of said resistanceunit.

4:. In combination, a support, an insulator mounted on and projectingfrom said support, a lineelectrode on the outer end of said insulator, aresistance unit of a length exceeding the distance from the lineelectrode to said support, means attached to said resistance unitintermediate its ends and to said support for supporting said resistanceunit upon said support with one end projecting from and freelypositioned on one side of said support, said resistance unit passingthrough the plane of said support with its opposite end projecting fromand freely positioned upon the opposite side of the support, a groundelectrode mounted on the resistance unit on one side of said support andin proximity to said line electrode and ground connection on theopposite end of said resistance unit.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of March,1924.

ERNEST H. JACOBS.

